Maryland men’s basketball earns third straight win, beating Bucknell 91-67

Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics

As many families around the country are doing this week, Maryland men’s basketball (6-1) celebrated Thanksgiving by coming back home and feasting on the Bucknell Bison (4-4), winning 91-67. 

With just a week remaining until conference play, the Terps are finding their rhythm on both ends of the floor, cruising to their third straight victory. They held the lead for the entirety of the game.

“I like the way we’re coming out and being aggressive from the start,” head coach Kevin Willard said. “I think that’s more important than anything.”

The Terps’ quick start on Wednesday was highlighted by their shooting numbers, as the team shot 54.5% from the field and 52.9% from three in the first half – both being their best single-half marks this season. Their 12 made threes total are their most in a game thus far.

“We emphasize a lot of threes in practice,” said guard Selton Miguel. “Coach Willard tells us that every time we’re open, just be confident and shoot.”

The confidence that Willard instills in his players stems from a conversation the head coach had with an analytics guy over the summer, which highlighted the disparity between possessions that ended in turnovers versus possessions where shots were taken – even if it wasn’t the best look.

“We jack them up. We’re not afraid to put them up, which is okay,” Willard said. “Turnovers in college are killers…a quick three is so much better than a great possession that ends in turning over the basketball.”

While Derik Queen, Julian Reese, and Miguel all hit double figures, the story of the game was Tafara Gapare. The Georgia Tech transfer led the Terps in scoring with 19, shooting 77.8% from the floor and 75% from beyond the arc. His day was highlighted by a poster dunk and stare-down in the second half, which sent the Xfinity Center into a frenzy – but also earned him a technical foul.

“I’m trying to find myself in practice and find what I do best,” Gapara said. “I just gotta keep doing the same thing every day, it’s a consistency thing.”

Willard mentioned after the Canisius game that he wanted to utilize his bench more often. With the bench accounting for over 40% of Maryland’s points tonight, half of which Gapara was responsible for, it seems Willard accomplished his goal. 

“He’s one of the most frustrating players I’ve coached…which is a compliment,” Willard said about Gapara. “It’s what I see in practice a lot. I gotta give him more time to be out there and make a difference, but I think he also has to understand he’s got to come in and do what he did tonight, which is be aggressive from the start.”

The Terps finish their first month of the season in a strong position. They’ll march into December trying to keep their foot on the gas pedal. They’ll be back home this Sunday, as they take on Alcorn State at 12 p.m., their final game before conference play begins.